National power refers to a nation's ability to influence other nations and secure its national interests. It has three main dimensions: military power, economic power, and psychological power. Military power provides security, economic power allows control over resources and trade, and psychological power involves public opinion and propaganda. The dimensions are interdependent - a nation needs economic strength to develop its military, and military and economic strength back psychological influence. Together the three dimensions determine a nation's overall power in international relations.

1. NATIONAL POWER
Is simply the ability or capability
of a nation to secure the goals and
objectives of its national interests
in relation with other nations.

2. NATIONAL POWER
It involves the capacity to use force
or threat of use of force or
influence over others for securing
the goals of national interest.

3. NATIONAL POWER
In this way, we can define National
Power as “the ability to control the
behaviour of other states in accordance
with one’s own will.” National Power is
the currency of international relations.

4. NATION
In political science a union of a society of
inhabitants of the same country, speaking the
same language, coming from a common racial
ancestry, obeying the same laws and a community of
interests and sentiments formed over the lapse of
years.

5. NATURE OF NATIONAL
POWER
For understanding the nature
of National Power let us know
the meaning of the terms
‘National’ and ‘Power’

6. NATIONAL
Means pertaining to the nation making
national power the power of a nation.
However, in the context of national power
the term ‘nation’ does not mean the same as
in Political Science.


7. NATIONAL
In the context of national powers, nation stands for
the power of the group of decision makers and
authorities who exercise power on behalf of the
nation. It is the power of the decision-makers
who formulate and implement the foreign policy of
the nation and thereby attempt to secure national
goals.

8. POWER
For understanding the nature of power in
the context of National Power, it is
necessary to distinguish between Power and
Force, and Power and Influence.

9. POWER AND FORCE
Means physical force, violence in the form of police
action, imprisonment, punishment or war.
 Power means a psychological relationship of control
which is backed by the use of force, or threat of use of force.
When physical force, war and other means involving the
use of military power or police power area actually used to
secure certain objectives, power stands replaced by force.

10. POWER AND INFLUENCE:
Both involve the ability to produce an intended
change or effect in the behavior of others.
However, the two are not the same. Power
involves a use of force or threat of use of force.
Political Power or Legal Power is backed by
authority or sovereignty of the state.

11. 8 MAIN FEATURES OF
NATIONAL POWER
 :National Power has a non-stable, dynamic character and
as such it has to be continuously or at least periodically and
regularly evaluated for understanding the role of the nation
in international relations.
 National power is always dynamic. A powerful nation
can become less powerful or more powerful in future.

12. THE MOST IMPORTANT
FEATURES OF NATIONAL
POWER IN POLITICS:
1. Is both a Means as well as
an End in International
Relations

13. 2. NATIONAL POWER
IS THE ABILITY TO
SECURE GOALS OF
NATIONAL INTEREST

14. 3. National Power is
Dynamic and Relative in
Character

15. 4. No Two Nations
Have Equal Power

16. 5.There Are Several
Elements of National
Power

17. 6. Actual Power and
Potential Power

18. 7. National Power is the
Currency of International
Relations

19. 8. National Power is the
Basis as Well as a Means of
Foreign Policy

20. LESSON 2: DIMENSION OF
POWER
The three forms of national power are inseparable from each
other. Without economic power no nation can develop her
military power, and without the latter no nation can play an
active role in international relations. Psychological power can
be enduringly and really effective only when it is backed by
economic and military power.
Some of the major dimensions of national power in international
politics are as follows

21. 1. MILITARY POWER
Military power is an important dimension of
national power. It is regarded as absolutely essential
for achieving the objective of security of the nation.
For every nation, security is the most vital element of
its national interest. It is the primary concern of every
nation to work for her security.

22. 2. ECONOMIC POWER
Economic power is the second important dimension of
national power. It is constituted by the ability of a nation to
satisfy its own needs and to control the behavior of
other states by affording or denying access to economic
goods and services. The economic means of foreign policy
are today the most vital means which a state can use for
influencing the actions and behaviour of other states. No
state can become a military power without having adequate
economic power.

23. 3.PSYCHOLOGICAL POWER:
:Psychological power means the power of opinion and image of the nation.
The role of propaganda and persuasive negotiations in international relations
have been used by the states for securing an intended change in the behavior of
other states. The improvement in the means of communications, increased
influence of mass media, social media and public opinion on foreign policy, the
emergence of open and conference diplomacy, the popularity of alternative
ideologies, the role of NGOs and social movements, and the increased role of
propaganda and publicity in international relations, have all increased the role
of this dimension of National Power.

24. THE INTERDEPENDENCE
OF THE THREE
DIMENSIONS
 The three forms of national power are inseparable. Without economic
power no nation can develop her military power, and without the latter no
nation can play an active role in international relations. Psychological
power can be enduring and really effective with economic and military
power. Thus, psychological power is a valuable and important part of national
power. The nature and scope National Power of nation can be evaluated only by
evaluating all these three highly related and interdependent dimensions of
National Power.